Status of ATR on Task Force Report on Land Scam in Odisha
(Not a single plot
recovered and no action taken against anybody involved in land scam by State Govt. since three years)
recovered and no action taken against anybody involved in land scam by State Govt. since three years)
In view of CAG report about alleged irregularities in
allotment of land/houses/flats by Bhubaneswar Development Authority(BDA), Cuttack Development Authority (CDA),Odisha State Housing Board (OSHB) and General Administration (GA) Department,
the State Government had constituted a Task Force on
dated 2.8.2014 to review all the allotment of more
than one land/houses/flats to the members of the same
family and allotment under discretionary quota to ineligible
persons from 1995 to 2014 and submit its report within 4 months. The Task
Force led by Dr. Taradatt, Addl. Chief Secretary with the members such
as Commissioner-cum-Secretary, H&UD Department and Special
Secretary, Dept. of GA produced their report on 3.11.14. The report was placed
before state cabinet on 18.12.14 and it was endorsed with Action
Taken Report which was later on published in official Gazette on
30.1.2015. Three years have passed since ATR,
not a single land has been recovered to
Govt. fold nor was a single allottee
arrested by the Directorate of State
Vigilance. On 16.4.16 while
reviewing the status of Action taken for recovery of
the land allotted illegally by BDA, CDA, OSHB and GA, the Chief
Secretary has informed the press that 11 plots have been cancelled by BDA. CDA has issued notice to 1091 for cancellation of plot allotted under
DQ. After this news was published, RTI Application in June 2016 was submitted
to the General Administration Department, Bhubaneswar
Development Authority (BDA), Cuttack Development
Authority (CDA), Odisha State Housing Board (OSHB)
seeking information about details of land
recovered from the people who have illegally taken
the land or allotted under Discretionary Quota
and name of the people who returned the land and
Action Taken against the people who have taken
multiple plot by filling false affidavit. While
BDA refrained from disclosure
of any information, CDA provided a list
of 1091 allottees who have been issued show-cause
notice in August 2016. No information was obtained from the General
Administration Department. State Vigilance denied to provide any
information as the matter is under investigation. On 20.8.16, Odisha
State Housing Board provided the information that 66
people allotted land under Discretionary Quota and 24 people
taking multiple plots by filling false affidavit have been
issued show-cause notice. The PIO denied to disclose their
names as the matter is under investigation by State Vigilance.
allotment of land/houses/flats by Bhubaneswar Development Authority(BDA), Cuttack Development Authority (CDA),Odisha State Housing Board (OSHB) and General Administration (GA) Department,
the State Government had constituted a Task Force on
dated 2.8.2014 to review all the allotment of more
than one land/houses/flats to the members of the same
family and allotment under discretionary quota to ineligible
persons from 1995 to 2014 and submit its report within 4 months. The Task
Force led by Dr. Taradatt, Addl. Chief Secretary with the members such
as Commissioner-cum-Secretary, H&UD Department and Special
Secretary, Dept. of GA produced their report on 3.11.14. The report was placed
before state cabinet on 18.12.14 and it was endorsed with Action
Taken Report which was later on published in official Gazette on
30.1.2015. Three years have passed since ATR,
not a single land has been recovered to
Govt. fold nor was a single allottee
arrested by the Directorate of State
Vigilance. On 16.4.16 while
reviewing the status of Action taken for recovery of
the land allotted illegally by BDA, CDA, OSHB and GA, the Chief
Secretary has informed the press that 11 plots have been cancelled by BDA. CDA has issued notice to 1091 for cancellation of plot allotted under
DQ. After this news was published, RTI Application in June 2016 was submitted
to the General Administration Department, Bhubaneswar
Development Authority (BDA), Cuttack Development
Authority (CDA), Odisha State Housing Board (OSHB)
seeking information about details of land
recovered from the people who have illegally taken
the land or allotted under Discretionary Quota
and name of the people who returned the land and
Action Taken against the people who have taken
multiple plot by filling false affidavit. While
BDA refrained from disclosure
of any information, CDA provided a list
of 1091 allottees who have been issued show-cause
notice in August 2016. No information was obtained from the General
Administration Department. State Vigilance denied to provide any
information as the matter is under investigation. On 20.8.16, Odisha
State Housing Board provided the information that 66
people allotted land under Discretionary Quota and 24 people
taking multiple plots by filling false affidavit have been
issued show-cause notice. The PIO denied to disclose their
names as the matter is under investigation by State Vigilance.
Similarly, again RTI Application was filed to OSHB, BDA , CDA to get the information about details of land
/ plot recovered and action taken
against illegal lease holders. On 4.12.17, the information provided by the PIO is
that show cause notice has been issued to 921
lease holders. Not a single plot
has been recovered. But 12 no of
plots has been cancelled on ground of multiple allotments. On
18.9.17., the PIO of OSHB has provided the information that show cause
notice has been issued to 66 persons allotted plot under DQ and 24
persons allotted multiple plots .
But no action has been taken against them. Similarly,
though 3 persons like Pranab Balabantaray,
Snigdharani Sahu and Sajjal Kumar
Moulick have applied for return of land, no step has been taken by OSHB
to get the land returned back. BDA
refused to provide any information about cancellation of plot and name of the persons who have been
issued notice. GA dept. has not taken
any steps to list out the
lease holders who have taken land during post-1995 period.
/ plot recovered and action taken
against illegal lease holders. On 4.12.17, the information provided by the PIO is
that show cause notice has been issued to 921
lease holders. Not a single plot
has been recovered. But 12 no of
plots has been cancelled on ground of multiple allotments. On
18.9.17., the PIO of OSHB has provided the information that show cause
notice has been issued to 66 persons allotted plot under DQ and 24
persons allotted multiple plots .
But no action has been taken against them. Similarly,
though 3 persons like Pranab Balabantaray,
Snigdharani Sahu and Sajjal Kumar
Moulick have applied for return of land, no step has been taken by OSHB
to get the land returned back. BDA
refused to provide any information about cancellation of plot and name of the persons who have been
issued notice. GA dept. has not taken
any steps to list out the
lease holders who have taken land during post-1995 period.
The details of Status of ATR is as follows.
|
Recommendation by Task force
|
Action Taken Report declared by Govt.
in Dec. 2014 |
Present Status |
|
1.
All such plots allotted by Government in GA Department, BDA, CDA and OSHB should be resumed, if the allottees have failed to construct houses within stipulated five years. |
It was accepted by Govt.
|
No
Action has been taken till yet. |
|
2.
BDA, OSHB and GA Department in conjunction with each other should take up another exercise to obtain comprehensive details including the allotments made prior to 01 .01 .1995 to know the exact extent of individuals and families who have taken undue benefits of multiple allotments against the schematic provisions. Similar exercise is to be conducted for Cuttack by CDA and OSHB together. |
BDA,
OSHB and GA Department will examine the allotments made prior to 1.1.1995 at Bhubaneswar to determine the exact list of allottees who have availed the irregular benefit of more than allotment of land / flat/ house against the specific schematic provisions. CDA and OSHB will make similar exercise for cuttack urban areas. The Exercise will be completed within six months. |
Not
a single step has been taken by the BDA, CDA and OSHB till yet. |
|
3.
Independent investigation/audit is necessary to quantify the actual number of multiple allotments of plots/houses/flats by GA Department, BDA, CDA and OSHB against Affidavits/
Applications,
both false and not false. |
List of multiple allotments pointed out by Task force has been made on the limited information supplied by BDA, CDA and OSHB. Finance Department therefore conduct a special audit of all left out cases of multiple allotments as recommended by task Force. Action should be taken by the concerned authorities against the allottees. |
Finance Department has not come out with any audit
report till yet. |
|
4.
Beneficiaries who submitted false Affidavits/Declarations to get allotments should also be proceeded against under the relevant provisions of law. The plots/houses/flats allotted to them should either be put to auction or allotted to deserving applicants through lottery. |
General
Administration ( Vigilance) Department will enquire into those cases of multiple allotments to individuals/ families where such allotments have been made on the basis of false affidavits or misleading information in violation of specific schematic provision and initiate criminal action. |
As
per the information supplied by the Govt. , State Vigilance has started the enquiry. But not a single land has been recovered and nobody has been arrested till yet. |
|
5.
All the discretionary allotment made after 1.1.1995 should be cancelled as such allotments have been invariably given undue Benefits to undeserving persons. Many well-placed and connected individuals have received discretionary allotments more than once from BDA, CDA, OSHB. |
BDA,
OSHB, CDA and GA Department should cancel the multiple allotments, additional units allotted to ineligible individuals/ families as pointed out by the task Force in its report and resume the same to the concerned authorities. |
Not
a single Discretionary allotment has been cancelled. BDA, CDA and OSHB could not supply any information under RTI. |
|
6.
Since the lists of DQ allottees have been prepared on the basis of limited information supplied by BDA, CDA, OHSB, further independent investigation/audit is recommended to be undertaken to find out the actual size of discretionary allotments including those not placed before the Task Force for discovery. |
Finance Department will conduct a special audit to find out the actual number of discretionary allotments made after 1.1.1995 including those not placed before the Task Force as recommended by Task force. Action should be taken by the concerned authorities against these left out cases. |
Finance Department has not come out will
any special audit report till yet. |
|
7.
Cancellation of all such pre-possession transfers except in the event of death of the allottees and fixation of accountability against the officials who granted permission transfers. As regards post-possession transfers, the Task Force recommends that such transfers by Discretionary Quota allottees and multiple allottees should also be cancelled. |
BDA,
CDA and OSHB should cancel all allotments of plot/house/flat under Discretionary Quota made under different schemes after 1.1.1995 including their pre and post-possession transfers and the plots/houses and flats should be resumed to the concerned authorities. |
No step has been taken till yet.
|
|
8.
The BDA, CDA and OSHB may be called upon to explain as to how they have permitted transfers of plots/houses/flats by allottees without approval of the General Administration Department/ Revenue and Disaster Management Department i.e., lessor. Stringent action may be taken for permitting pre-possession transfers. |
Nothing is mentioned in ATR.
|
No action Taken.
|
|
9.
Recovery may be made from allottees who have disposed the plots/houses/ flats allotted to them including under Discretionary Quota and have applied and succeeded in getting allotments again including discretionary quota. |
BDA,
OSHB, CDA and GA Department should cancel the multiple allotments, additional units allotted to ineligible individuals/ families as pointed out by the task Force in its report and resume the same to the concerned authorities. |
Not a single land/plot has been
recovered till today. |
|
10.
Allotment of plots/houses/flats without evident publicity or by notifying the scheme only on the office Notice Board needs to be viewed seriously and cancelled. Those responsible for implementing such scheme should be proceeded against departmentally and criminally. Disciplinary action should be taken for implementing schemes exclusively for the employees of the implementing agencies concerned and all such allotment should be cancelled. |
Not anything mentioned in Govt. ATR
|
|
|
11.
Steps should be taken in a time bound manner for addressing the specific irregularities in the segment of the report. The land meant for housing but allotted otherwise (for example, about 20 Ac. Of such land had been given to SoA University by BDA) and land given for institutional purpose but used for housing and otherwise should also be resumed. |
G.A.
Department will work out the modalities of implementation of the Task Force report in a time bound manner in consultation with Law Department and the Advocate General. This exercise is to be completed within 90 days. |
Pradip Pradhan
State Convener, Odisha Soochana Adhikar
Abhijan
Abhijan
M-9937843482
Date-21.12.17
